The Dive Oyster Bar

i was rlly impressed by their clam chowder as it was packed with clams and other seafood. The pan roast was also very creamy! The fish and chips also took me by surprise with how it was so crispy on the outside but very tender on the inside. i'd recommend all three of the food items i ordered! * fish and chips * the dive chowder * house specialty pan roast * pinot grigio wine

If you're looking to satisfy your seafood and oysters needs in Irvine, I would definitely check this place out! I would say that this place is quite pricey provided the average portions. The jambalaya was delicious and the sauce was both creamy and flavorful. It comes with small scoop of white rice. The oysters were amazing as well. They offer a variety of oysters depending on taste and sweetness. The oysters were quite large and did not taste "oceany" which is a huge plus! The location wasn't busy at all for lunch, but it seems like it picks up for dinner. It is also an open dining space with a good amount of seating and quick service!

We ordered four dishes and ate them all family-style so we could sample a little bit of everythingThe cheesy shrimp and grits are a must-order for the table. It comes with four very plump shrimp sitting on a bed of gooey cheese all on top of grits that provides a great contrast in texture. The New England chowder was good but the sourdough was a bit stale and hard to chew so maybe skip the bread bowl and order just the soup.I was super excited to try the house specialty pan roast with shredded blue crab, shrimp, clams, mussels, and sausage. It was loaded with a lot of seafood so they don't skimp out on that. However, the flavor was interesting since it had a smoky undertone that wasn't particularly my favorite. We got it with rice which helped balance out the flavors more but it wasn't what I was expecting.That said, the jambalaya was delicious. The rice was cooked perfectly in the tomato herb spiced sauce and they weren't lying when they said it was slightly spicy. I took small breaks because it got to me sometimes but in a good way. Don't miss out on this dish.It was quite empty on a Tuesday night so we were seated right away. The workers were very attentive and checked in on us often so the experience was great.

We only tried small plates but it was really good. Easy sitting, casual modern setup, good service.We had the frots and chowder, and that was really tasty and you can tell the chowder is full of clams, creamy but not overly heavy.The popcorn crawfish had a good mouth feel, but the crawfish themselves didn't shine. It could have been pretty much anything.Couple of small oysters to start, perfect, sweet, creamy, a good balance. The green spicy sauce that comes with is awesome.

Located inside the Irvine Spectrum, you can find the dive near the movie theaters. The space is open and clean. I love a good outdoor seating, there was a bar-like seating with heater above to keep you warm. Came on a weekday so it was not too busy. We ordered the soft shell crab and pan roast. The soft shell crab had a nice fry, only came with 2 pieces, 2 crabs cut in half with an aioli sauce. The pan roast was creamy and lush, but needed more spice. We had the spice on the side, they use chopped habeneros. The dish typically comes with one scoop of rice or pasta (your choice), but you can always request a second scoop with the server.I was hoping it would be like Ritter's but the flavor is diffeeent. Overall, I'd still suggest coming to try their pan roast or oysters during happy hour (3-6).

This is my second time trying the dive bar and I was really craving the calm chowder!The calm chowder was very good. It was a nice creamy soup and there were lots of calms at the bottom.The server was nice and recommended all the food items my husband and I wanted to eat. We ordered quite a lot and they were a bit concern that we ordered all these food lol. I like a big nice spread.New update about trying the food was that I didn't like the truffle oil with the Mac and cheese. I think it would taste better without the oil. The pan roast tasted better, but I would get it without the bell peppers. The calms and mussels had a nice citrus sauce flavor.Fish and chips were burnt, I was a bit sad about that. But the fries were good.Thank you.

I'm a huge fan of the pan roast at Ritter's, so when I heard this place had opened up in Irvine Spectrum, I was super excited. The place is casual, with beer on tap. Service is good. I have been here twice and unfortunately, this place did not live up to expectations. I've tried multiple dishes here and they've been just okay. The pan roast was too creamy, not enough spices. The blackened salmon salad was dry and the salmon was overcooked. The jambalaya, Brussels sprouts, and chowder frots were just okay.

The Dive at the Irvine Spectrum started strong, opening to great fanfare, but sadly, it seems to have lost its charm over time. What used to be a go-to spot for great food and happy hour deals now feels like a bit of a letdown.The pan roast was decent, not amazing, but not terrible either. However, the fish and chips were a disappointment, with a mushy texture that left a lot to be desired. It's a shame because their happy hour and menu items used to be fantastic, but those days seem to be behind them.Unfortunately, The Dive has become a pass for me. Hopefully, they can recapture what made them a standout when they first opened. Until then, I'd recommend looking elsewhere for better food and deals.

So flavorful steam clams. The best customer services with Danny . Always a treat coming here. We came when it's a chilling January month. The food is so comforting and delicious.

Absolutely delicious! We had the pan roast and the flavor was fantastic. Big pieces of seafood. Great service from our server Izzy. We will be back.